Darcy's Alibi: A Sweet "Pride & Prejudice" Variation

By Abbey North

A murder in Meryton leads to Lizzy becoming Darcy’s Alibi.
When Wickham is discovered with a knife through his heart—and the hilt has the Darcy crest—suspicion immediately turns to Mr. Darcy. Lizzy soon learns who the real killer was, and the circumstances of why, and she is forced to act to save the culprit and Mr. Darcy. She claims she spent the night with him at Netherfield, thus besmirching her reputation and ensuring utter ruin unless Darcy offers marriage. He does, but he believes she is the murderer, and he holds her at arms’ length, clearly not trusting her. Lizzy is miserable in their marriage, but telling the truth betrays the trust of another. How can she get Fitzwilliam to see past his assumptions and allow them to have a genuine marriage built on love and respect?
While Abbey sometimes writes steamy JAFF, this is strictly SWEET. There is one fade-to-black scene between the married couple.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sweet Heat JAFF
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005679088

Book preview

Blurb

A murder in Meryton leads to Lizzy becoming Darcy’s Alibi.

WHEN WICKHAM IS DISCOVERED with a knife through his heart—and the hilt has the Darcy crest—suspicion immediately turns to Mr. Darcy. Lizzy soon learns who the real killer was, and the circumstances of why, and she is forced to act to save the culprit and Mr. Darcy. She claims she spent the night with him at Netherfield, thus besmirching her reputation and ensuring utter ruin unless Darcy offers marriage. He does, but he believes she is the murderer, and he holds her at arms’ length, clearly not trusting her. Lizzy is miserable in their marriage, but telling the truth betrays the trust of another. How can she get Fitzwilliam to see past his assumptions and allow them to have a genuine marriage built on love and respect?

While Abbey sometimes writes steamy JAFF, this is strictly SWEET. There is one fade-to-black scene between the married couple but remains suitable for all ages and tastes.

Chapter One

LIZZY LOOKED UP FROM buttering her crumpet when her father burst into the dining room. He was clearly abuzz, though Fanny seemed not to realize.

Really, Thomas, to be late and then to burst in in such a fashion. You shall give us all indigestion.

Thomas waved a hand at her as he sat down in his customary spot at the head of the table. I have information that is far more likely to give you indigestion than my late arrival, dear wife.

What is it? asked Kitty as she leaned closer, looking avidly at her father. She was always one for a dash of gossip, though Lizzy couldn’t deny she also enjoyed hearing a good bit herself, though she tended to question the veracity of anything that sped through the village of Meryton.

The militia soldier George Wickham is dead. Her father delivered the information grimly.

Oh, my, said Kitty, clasping her chest. How dreadful.

Most dreadful, said Mary. She opened Fordyce’s book with no fumbling, likely having memorized just the passage she wanted. The good reverend says—

Yes, yes, we are all aware of what the good reverend might say, said Fanny in a repressive tone before turning her attention back to Mr. Bennet. How did it happen?

He was found this morning outside his barracks, and there was a knife in his heart.

Ghastly, said Jane.

Lizzy was certain she should be feeling badly for Mr. Wickham, but after what she had learned from Darcy’s letter delivered to her once she refused his proposal at Hunsford two months ago, preceding her trip to London and return home with Jane, she could find little sympathy for the man. Likely, he had brought his death upon himself. Still, she murmured, Appalling, in what she hoped was a convincing tone.

It was sad that anyone had died, and she wasn’t inured to that. She simply couldn’t muster as much care and concern for Wickham’s death as she might for anyone else.

Have they any idea who did it? asked Kitty.

Indeed. They have already identified the murderer and have him currently held at the parish constable’s office.

Lizzy frowned. Constable Walters is in charge of a murder investigation? She barely hid her skepticism. The man was incompetent, and parish constable was more an honorary title than anything. In his case, it was likely due to his connections to local nobility, having married a cousin of Sir Lucas’s wife who’d passed away within months of the marriage. I fear the inquiry shall be bungled with him in charge.

Thomas shrugged. Perhaps, but it appears a rather clear-cut case. The knife bore the Darcy family crest, you see.

Lizzy stiffened. Darcy? As in Mr. Darcy, who is staying at Netherfield with Mr. Bingley? Her voice had taken on a shrill note.

She had been as surprised as anyone